Residents ask Birmingham to appeal decision allowing strip club on Derby Way

Bernard Troncale/Birmingham News Some residents, business owners and others want to see Sensations strip club closed. Some eastern area residents, business owners and churches say they want the city of Birmingham to appeal the recent Jefferson County Circuit Court decision that allowed a strip club to operate.

Sensations, at 2404 Derby Way in Birmingham's Liberty Highlands Neighborhood, opened Feb. 11. The club's opening followed a Feb. 2 order by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Houston Brown, which overturned the Birmingham City Council's decision not to issue the club dance permits and a liquor license transfer to allow the club to open, said Don Blankenship, a lawyer representing the club.

Lawyer Alton Parker appeared at the Birmingham City Council meeting this morning on behalf of The Citizens to Preserve Derby Parkway to request that Birmingham appeal Brown's decision to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. Trussville Mayor Gene Melton was among about a dozen people against the club at the meeting.

The Citizens to Preserve Derby Parkway includes residents from Birmingham and Trussville, members of the Guiding Light Church and the Word of Life Church along with owners of businesses and land near the club.

Irondale Mayor Tommy Joe Alexander, who was unable to attend the meeting, said he also supports any efforts to remove the club. Alexander said he is against a strip club operating so near Irondale because it would attract the wrong crowd to the area.

Drayton Nay, the club's general manager, has argued that the club is providing jobs in Jefferson County and the club would host fundraisers for charity, making Sensations a good neighbor.

While several Birmingham council members, including Johnathan Austin and Valerie Abbott, said they supported the appeal, the process must begin with Birmingham Mayor William Bell.